So, in that regard, both David and the audience are meant to be in the same boat by the time the movie's end credits start rolling, leaving them to wonder how they might deal with questions of legacy (hopefully, the non-criminal variety) in their own life. Ayer, as a storyteller, has never been inclined to offer his characters easy ways out of the cycles of violence they so often find themselves trapped in even when they do walk away still breathing, they're left wrestling with questions about the death and destruction they've bore witness to, and the price they themselves have paid to make it this far. It's probably best The Tax Collector doesn't give a firm answer to this question so late in the game (though David, devastated by the loss of Alexa in particular, clearly wants out of this life). The Wizard responds by indicating he's been where David is before (re: having lost loved ones because of his work, perhaps even David's mother) and it shaped him into the man he is today, which begs the question: will his son continue to follow in his father's footsteps, now that he fully understands the price of the "taxes" that come with his position? In a more figurative sense, this is David demanding answers from the "god" and not-so-holy father (both metaphorical and literal) whom he's faithfully served all these years, despite having never truly received the guidance he wanted or needed from them. By doing this, he's forced to truly wrestle with questions about his criminal legacy and the decisions that brought him here. Related: Suicide Squad: How the Director's Cut is Different To 2016's VersionĪfter rescuing his children and killing Conejo (with the assistance of other gang members, who come to his aid), David calls up The Wizard during the final minutes of The Tax Collector, demanding he actually speak to him. He's equally fair towards his business associates (preferring to use intimidation tactics over brutal violence whenever possible), which earns him the respect of rival gangs and organizations in L.A. Even leading the life he does, David strives to be a good husband to Alexa, a kindly father to his children, and a true follower when it comes to his religious beliefs. Start this video around the 1:20 mark to see him toss the gun behind him as he runs to the Tin Man. In fact, one of the biggest errors in this movie is in this scene, and you can see him throw the gun aside when it occurs. In many ways, this paints David is a more sympathetic light, suggesting he might've been a genuinely decent person, had he been afforded better opportunities (many of which were no doubt denied to him because of his heritage and race). Big Oz fan here, and here might be the answer for you: Yes, he had a gun. Instead of being the story of a man who entered a life of crime for the money and power that comes with it, it becomes a narrative about someone who was born into this world and has chosen to embrace it, rather than walking away from it. Knowing The Wizard is really David's father paints The Tax Collector's plot in a different light.
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